I just received an email from the publisher of the journal Sports Engineering (Springer) telling me that it’s 20 years old. As the founding editor of the journal, this might explain why I feel so creaky and why I’ve suddenly felt the need to publish a book on the history, science and technology of sports […]
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE WOODEN ICE HOCKEY STICK?
Technology has had a profound impact on the sporting world and it is the reason for the sudden disappearance of the wooden ice hockey stick. Over the last decade, there have been large advances in the technology of the ice hockey stick. Material, manufacturing and structural advances in composites have allowed manufacturers to create an ice […]
Why do the Dutch skate so fast? Speed skating: a tale of culture, courage and innovation
The speed skating events in the Olympics this weekend kicked off with a fully orange podium in the men’s 5k event. The woman’s 3k golden medal was also awarded to the Dutch. What is it with this little country that makes them so good at speed skating?
The need for speed: the downhill toboggan world record
Sometimes you get a phone call and someone asks you for help: they get you on a good day, at a positive moment and you think “yeah, why not? That sounds like fun”. Later, you realise you’re committed to helping to break a world record — the fastest speed for a gravity powered sled — and people […]
What is sports engineering?
We’ve had many questions asking us what we do as sports engineers. This article aims to describe that work we do at the Centre for Sports Engineering Research If we take apart the term sports engineering and look at the meaning of each word: 1) Sports = see Simon Choppin’s first blog article in this […]
Science Spat: Is the use of sport in technology cheating? Round 3.
It appears that in this year’s Olympics, the issue of technology in sport is as big an issue as it’s ever been. The ‘science spat’ below is the third of three letters and responses between Steve Haake and Jim Parry that originally appeared in People and Science. Read the first and second letters if you […]
Science Spat: Is the use of technology in sport cheating? Round 1.
It appears that in this year’s Olympics, the issue of technology in sport is as big an issue as it’s ever been. And with running suits appearing in athletics, it is bound to be a hot topic of conversation. The ‘science spat’ below is the first of three letters and responses between Steve Haake and […]
How your Christmas present might revolutionise sports science
When you open your Christmas present this year it might not be obvious that you are helping a revolution in sports science. Some of the most popular presents are likely to be mobile phones, games consoles and computer games and the modern stocking filler now contains more sensory technology than an early space mission. The […]
Extreme temperature could influence ball properties at the 2022 World Cup
The host nation for the 2022 World Cup will be Qatar, a desert country where temperatures in June and July can reach 50 °C. I find it hard to even imagine that level of heat, let alone play football in it! The extreme temperatures are of obvious concern. So, alternative measures are being considered to […]
Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, Special Edition on Predictive Modelling in Sport
Dr Simon Choppin and Dr Tom Allen are acting as guest editors for a special edition of Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. The issue looks at the use of predictive modelling in sport and how it can be used to predict new behaviour, essentially how technology influences sports performance! If you’re an academic and […]
Engineering Sport 